Heat Wave coming
 

Just a little friendly advice from a service guy...

Check/Change air filter

Hose off your condenser with a hose and some simple green. Mulch and grass clippings clog up the condenser and restrict air flow.

Don’t let your wife lower the t-stat to 60*. It doesn’t make it blower harder or colder. Units are designed for 20* split. 85* in 65* coming out the vent, if your lucky.

Unless you have recently updated to the newer 410A refrigerant, your system is probably R22. R22 Condensers and Coils are very hard to come by (if at all) so if your unit craps out you will most likely have to replace your entire cooling system.

Also if your unit is in the attic make sure the drain is clear, it’s going to be condensating a lot and the pan will overflow if you don’t have a trip switch and line clogs up.

Just some friendly advice, I’m sure the other HVAC guys can attested to this. Stay cool, and if you have any questions I’ll answer as best as I can.

Good tips!

Should probably pick up some cold beer as well

Wisdom, this thread has it.

thanks for the tips

good call about cleaning off the condenser. just reminded me! and I have simple green too lol

Depends on what kind though, some beer no matter how cold is a violation.

Some good tips in there. I'm going to check my condensor today to see if it needs cleaning.

"Also if your unit is in the attic make sure the drain is clear, it’s going to be condensating a lot and the pan will overflow if you don’t have a trip switch and line clogs up."

This one cost me my computer during college.

Just sprayed mine and hosed it off. Cleaned off a bunch of ****. Ty sir

The cold beers is a must have.

Another tip. If your system can't keep up, set your hose on a fine mist and let it spray on your condenser. The evaporation assists the heat exchange. It's a bandage but it works.

was thinking a sprinkler system :lol:

Our AC system is starting to act up. When it triggers on, the lights in the house dim more than 50%. That's some crummy timing...

So, any of you HVAC guys willing to come to Suffern, NY? I'm right on the border of Mahwah, but the NY side. PM me, AC cut out earlier. It's back on, but I need to fix/replace ASAP/

Sorry man, your a little to far north for me. All the guys I do side work with live down in south jersey and they wouldn’t make that commute.

Thanks man, but we received a referral and got it fixed. A bad capacitor ended up frying a breaker. They added some sort of boost box as well, and the house is chilly now, and my wife is less cranky.

Sounds like they put a hard start kit on, which helps the compressor start a little easier. If the compressor is having a hard time starting it could mean it’s on it’s way out. I’ve seen them last for years like that, also have seen them last for days. Low voltage areas tend to have that problem because it drives the Amps up on start up. Hope in your case it holds out for you, but don’t be surprised if it acts up again and the compressor locks up.

Exactly. He said it seems as if the compressor was having a difficult time kicking on.

I figured the system could use replacement because we know the AC unit has been in the house since at least 2002. We asked them for a quote to replace it during the offseason, and they told us $7500 installed for a Goodman 5 ton. Sounds steep, but since we got it working, I'm going to take my time to research and shop around.

$7500 for a 5 ton, is a pretty good price for a legit company. A little steep for a guy doing it on the side tho. I would stay away from Goodman equipment. They are having a bunch of issue with A Coils leaking with the new 410A refrigerant. AercoAire Ruud York are the 3 that I use.

Thanks for the tip, man. I appreciate your help. I'm going to look into that because going without AC with my wife complaining made me want to punch myself in the face. I need it to be reliable.